Knock-down shelter

ABSTRACT

The opposite end walls of the erected shelter include at least one rigid panel, the lower edges of these panels being releasably received in a groove at the front and rear, respectively, of the shelter. A plurality of elongated rail members have L-shaped angle elements at each end which detachably engage over the upper edges of the panels and also the vertical braces secured thereto. A canvas sheet overlies the upper edges of the panels and the rail members to form the top and side walls of the structure. The edges of the canvas are anchored by means of flexible ropes. The flexible ropes that anchor the lower side edges of the canvas pass through openings in the floor which enable the shelter to be used as a fish house during winter months. A hinged lid is associated with each floor opening.

[451 June 19, 1973 KNOCK-DOWN SHELTER [76] Inventor: Harlan R. Ward, 215West 52nd St.,

Minneapolis, Minn. 55419 [22] Filed: Jan. 13, 1971 [21] Appl. No.:106,011

[52] U.S. Cl. 52/63, 35/1, 52/90,

52/222 [51] Int. Cl E041) U347 [58] Field of Search 52/63, 127, 143,

52/222; 135/1, 4, 5 B; 296/23 A, 23 C, 23 F, 23 E, 23 G [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,581,331 4/1926 Smith 135/15 CF 2,793,4015/1957 Paschke 52/264 3,023,463 3/1962 Bigelow 52/264 2,298,530 10/1942Fletcher- 52/143 2,745,420 5/1956 Zitomer 135/1 R 1,745,831 2/1930Branstetterm 135/4 R 3,507,293 4/1970 DuBray 135/4 R 659,981 10/1900McCall 135/] R 984,977 2/1911 Stokes........ 135/4 R 1,857,081 5/1932Fontaine.... 296/23 F 2,236,091 3/1941 Fletcher 296/23 F 2,632,4543/1953 Skogen 135/4 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,228,049 11/1966Germany 135/15 CF Primary ExaminerFrank L. Abbott Assistant Examiner1-l.E. Raduazo Att0rneyDugger, Peterson, Johnson & Westman [57] ABSTRACT Theopposite end walls of the erected shelter include at least one rigidpanel, the lower edges of these panels being releasably received in agroove at the front and rear, respectively, of the shelter. A pluralityof elongated rail members have L-shaped angle elements at each end whichdetachably engage over the upper edges of the panels and also thevertical braces secured thereto. A canvas sheet overlies the upper edgesof the panels and the rail members to form the top and side walls of thestructure. The edges of the canvas are anchored by meansof flexibleropes. The flexible ropes that anchor the lower side edges of the canvaspass through openings in the floor which enable the shelter to be usedas a fish house during winter months. A hinged lid is associated witheach floor opening.

17 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 1 KNOCK-DOWN SHELTER BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally toknock-down shelters, and pertains more particularly to a shelter thatwill find especial utility as a portable winter fish house.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various knock-down or collapsibleshelters have heretofore been devised for use by ice. fishermen. Many ofthese have proved to be too heavy and cumbersome for their intendedpurpose. Others have involved intricate assemblying procedures, manyrequiring the use of various tools and metal fasteners. In wildernessareas, whether the shelter be used during the summer or winter months,it will be recognized that the shelter must be at times transported overappreciable distances. This poses a particular problem for icefishermen, for frequently a good fishing lake is virtually inaccessiblewith the conventional type of vehicle. Even where the body of water canbe reached by snowmobile, the snowmobile cannot transport heavy loadswithout sacrificing the carrying of other needed equipment. Also, theclose proximity of trees with respect to each other and their lowhanging branches further complicate the problem of transporting sheltersthat cannot be collapsed into compact and lightweight form.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the shortcomings of the prior art,one important object of the present invention is to provide a knockdownshelter that is not only lightweight but which can be assembled withoutresort to screws, nuts, bolts or other fasteners requiring the use oftools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shelter that will besufficiently rigid, although still light in weight, so that it willresist relatively strong winds and at the same time providesufficientinsulation so that it can be used in sub-zero climates.

Still further, an object is to provide a knock-down or collapsibleshelter that can be sold. in kit form at a relatively low price, therebyencouraging its widespread use by various types of sportsmen during bothwinter and summer.

Briefly, my invention comprises flooring havinga groove or slot at eachend thereof which receive the lower edges of panels that are toconstitute the end walls for the erected structure. Elongated rails haveangle members at each end which overlie the upper ends of the end walls,thereby permitting a canvas or other flexible sheeting to be draped overthe upper edges of the rigid walls and also the rails engaged therewith.The lower marginal edges of the canvas or other flexible material aresuitably anchored by means of flexible ropes extending through slots'orholes in the hinged lids when closed and the larger openings or holeswhen the lids are raised that enable the shelter to be employed as afish house.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of myknock-down shelter when fully erected, a portion of one front wall panelbeing broken away so as to reveal the manner in which the lower edge ofthe fabric is anchored;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of my shelter prior to draping the canvasthereover;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken in the direction of line 3-3 of FIG. 2for the purpose of depicting the floor construction and the ice fishingholes provided therein, two intermediate portions having been removed topermit a larger scale to be used.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken in the direction of line 4-4 for thepurpose of further illustrating the floor construction and one of theice fishing holes contained therein;

FIG. 5 is a sectional detail taken in the direction of line 5-5 of FIG.2 in order to illustrate the way in which the several elongated railsengage the upper edges of the end walls;

FIG. 6 is a sectional detail taken in the direction of line 6-6 of FIG.2 to show the overlapping relationship of the vertical braces secured tothe adjacent edges of the two front panels;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken in the direction of line 7-7 of FIG. 1,this view being on an enlarged scale and picturing to better advantagethe way the canvas or other sheeting is anchored to the panelscomprising the end walls, and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are fragmentary detail views depicting the two sizes ofnotches provided at the ends of the two outer rail members (FIG. 8) andthe central rail member (FIG. 9).

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The knock-down shelterexemplifying my invention is illustrated in its erected condition inFIG. 1 and has been generally denoted by the reference numeral 10. Thefoundation for the shelter l0 constitutes two rectangular base frames12a and 12b. Each frame 12 includes a pair of side strips 16, such as lX 4 inch wood, and end strips 18 of similar cross section. As bestdiscerned from FIG. 3, the end strip 18 at the front (and also at therear) has a spacer 20 secured thereto and a stop strip 22 confrontingthe spacer 20. In this way, an upwardly facing groove or slot at 24 isprovided for a purpose presently to be made manifest.

At this time, attention is directed to two floor panels 26a and 26b. Itwill be appreciated that the floor panels may be of whatever dimensionsthat are desired in order to provide the size of shelter 10 that isneeded. Thus, the floor panels 26a and 26b may be of 4 X 8 foot plywoodwhere two such panels are employed. Still further, if a somewhat smallersize of shelter 10 is desired, the floor paneling may constitute asingle 5 X 8 foot or 5 X l0 foot piece of plywood. The particular sizeof floor panels 26a and 26b (or a single such panel) is unimportant asfar as practicing the teachings of my invention. It will be appreciated,though, that the floor panels 260 and 26b are secured to the base frames12a and 12b by screws 27. In order to fully collapse the shelter 10 itis preferred that the two-panel design be employed and that hinges 28 beprovided at the juncture or butting edges of the floor panels 260 and26b so that they can be folded against each other when they are to betransported. The pins can be removed from the hinges to facilitate oneman: handling. Beneath the panels 264 and 26b isapplied a suitableinsulation 29 such as a foamed or cellular plastic which can readily besecured in place with an appropriate adhesive, Styrofoam having beenfound satisfactory in actual practice.

Although my shelter will find utility by sportsmen other than icefishermen, the structure is also appealing to campers for instance, butwill be described as a fish house. Accordingly, any preferred number ofopenings or holes 30 are formed in the panel 26a and a similar number inthe panel 26b. Auxiliary framing 32 (much like the base frames 12a and12b but on a smaller scale) provide a shoulder at 32 which permits a lid34, there being one such lid for each hole 30, to lie flush with thepanel 12a or 12b with which it is associated. Each lid has a pair ofhinges 36 so that it can be raised from the lowered position illustratedin FIG. 2 to the raised condition that is visible in FIG. 1.Additionally, each lid is formed with a hole or slot at 37 for use whenits lid 34 is closed, the reason for which will become clearerhereinafter.

Playing an important role in the practicing of the present invention areend panels 38a,'38b 38c and 38d. The panels 38a and 38b can be combinedinto a single panel and likewise the panels 380 and 38d into a singlepanel, such an arrangement being more practical where the shelter isfairly small. For the sake of discussion, however, it will be assumedthat the panels 38a and 38b constitute the front wall of the completedshelter and the panels 38c and 38d the rear wall. As best viewed inFIGS. 3, each panel has a stop strip 40 attached thereto, the stop stripbeing disposed somewhat above the lower or bottom edge of the panel towhich it is attached so that the lower marginal section of each panelcan be releasably received in the previously mentioned groove 24. Thepanels 38a, 38b, 38c and 38d should be quite rigid and to impartadditional rigidity to the V4 inch thickness of plywood that has beenfound adequate, a pair of overlapping braces 42 and 44 are secured alongthe vertical edges that meet each other as far as the panels 38a and 38bare concerned at the front and the panels 38c and 38d at the back. Asfar as the outer edges of the panels 38a, 38b, 38c and 38d areconcerned, braces 46 only at one side of each panel and along the remotevertical edge have proved adequate. In any case, screws 48 are used forpermanently securing the braces 42, 44 and 46 to the panels.

In a shelter of the envisaged type, only one door 50 is necessary, thedoor being located in the front panel 38a in the illustrative instance.Although not entirely evident at this stage of the description, aplurality of holes 52 are drilled through the various panels 38a, 38b,38c and 38d, these holes being spaced inwardly for a purpose presentlyto be made manifest.

Referring now to three cylindrical rods or rails 54a, 54b and 54c, itwill be perceived that these rods or rails each have an L-shaped angleelement 56 secured to each end thereof by means of appropriate screws58.

More specifically, the longer leg of each L-shaped element is theportion that is actually attached to the rod or rail 54a, 54b or 540, asthe case may be. The shorter legs are in a spaced relation with the endsof the members 54 to provide notches at 60a, 60b and 600. The notches60b, there being one such notch at each end of the rod or rail 54a, hasa greater spacing existing between the shorter leg of the angle member56 with respect to the end of the rod or rail 54b in order to receivetherebetween the overlapping braces 42 and 44,

as well as the thickness of the abutting panels 380 and 38b at one endof the shelter and 380 and 38d at the other end. Regarding the notches60a and 60c, though, these notches are narrower (but both of same width)inasmuch as only one brace 46 is employed along the outer edge of eachpanel 38. Hence, the notches 60a and 600 must only accommodate thereinthe panel thickness plus the thickness of one brace 46. Stated somewhatdifferently, if the braces constitute 1 X 2 inch strips, then the notch60b at each end of the rail 38a would be 2% inches wide. One notch 60a(same as 60c) appears in FIG. 8 and can readily be compared with thenotch 60b shown in FIG. 9.

While the goal of a shelter of this character is to have as muchrigidity imparted thereto as possible, the rigidity militates generallyagainst having a lightweight shelter. Thus, while the panels 38a, 38b,38c and 38d are rigid, the rigidity being enhanced by reason of thebraces 42, 44 and 46, the fabric now to be referred to not only makesthe structure of considerably less weight but facilitates its erection.Consequently, a sheet of canvas 62, or other lightweight flexiblematerial having water-proof properties, is draped over the several rails54a, 54b'and 540 as well as overlying the upper edges of the panels 38a,38b at the front and the panels 38c and 38d at the rear.

While only one eyelet 64 is visible, this eyelet being seen in FIG. 1through the broken away section of the panel 38b, it will be appreciatedthat any preferred number of eyelets 64, such as one or two per opening30, may be affixed to the canvas 62 along each lower edge thereof.Likewise, whereas only one flexible tab 66 can be seen, the same numberof tabs 66 would be employed as the number of eyelets 64. The tabs 66are stitched at 68 to the interior of the canvas 62. The tabs 66 in eachinstance has an eyelet 70. The lower end of a rope 72 is tied at 74 toeach bottom eyelet 64. The upper end of the rope 72 is looped at 76through the eyelet 70. As clearly perceived through the broken awaysection of the panel 38b in FIG. 1, the rope 72 passes through theparticular fish hole 30, the lid 34 being actually held open by the rope72 as it performs its anchoring function. However, when any of the lids34 are closed, the ropes 72 then pass through the slots 37. Thus, wherethree fish holes or openings 30 are provided in the floor panel 26a andthree in the panel 26b, there would be a minimum total of six anchoringcords or ropes 72.

Whereas the ropes 72 are adequate for anchoring the lower edges of thecanvas 62, the side edges must be also anchored. Therefore, theinvention has for an aim the provision of any preferred number ofeyelets 78 in the side margins of the canvas 62. As better seen fromFIG. 7, there is an elastic rope 80 associated with each eyelet 78, eachelastic rope 80 having a metal hook 82 at the free end thereof. Theelastic rope 80 is simply tied to the canvas 62 at the particular eyelet78 with which it coacts. Unlike the rope 80, which is elastic,additional ropes 84, such as nylon, pass through the previouslymentioned holes 52 formed inwardly with respect to the vertical and topedges of the various panels 38a, 38b, 38c and 38d. Here again, thisfeature can best be discerned from FIG. 7. An appropriately formed loop86 is provided at the free end of each rope 84, such a loop beingengageable by the particular hook 82 attached to the free end of theelastic rope 80. Through the agency of a simple knot 88 on the interiorside of the panels 38a, 38b, 38c and 38d the rope 84, in each instance,is held in an anchored relationship with the panels constituting the endwalls. To assist in such retention (and also to stop drafts), a washer90 as well can be employed, the knot 88 being sufficiently large so asnot to pass through the hole in the washer 90. This rope loop provides ametal-free eyelet which avoids any protruding metal that would be apt toget bent.

Inasmuch as it is contemplated that my shelter will prove adequate forwinter use, an asbestos insert 92 is disposed in the canvas 62, havingan opening 94 through which the smoke stack from the users stove orheater can project.

The procedure to be followed in erecting or assemblying my shelter 10 isexceedingly simple and straightforward. As already explained, no metalfasteners, such as nuts and bolts, are employed. When the user wishes toerect the shelter, he merely unfolds the two base frames 12a and 12b,together with their permanently attached floor panels 36a, 36b, so thatthey assume a planar relationship. At this stage, the grooves or slots24 are available for receiving the lower edges of the panels 38a, 38b,38c and 38d. Owing to the presence of the stop strips 40, there beingone for each panel 38a, 38b, 38c and 38d, the marginal edge of eachpanel can be easily dropped into its respective groove 24. The groove 24is deep enough so as to maintain the panels 38a, 38b, 38c and 38d in avertical position. Then all that the user need do is to place theseveral braces 42, 44 and 46, taking care that the proper width of notch60a, 60b and 60c is used. It will be appreciated that the rails 54a, 54band 54c rest on the underlying structure, there being no fastening meansresorted to. The shelter is then in readiness for having the canvas 62placed thereover. The lower edges of the canvas 62 are tucked under theoutermost side strips 16 of the base frames 12a and 12b so as to makethe eyelets 64 and ropes 72 contained therein accessible through theholes 30in the floor panels 26a and 26b. The user may then enter theshelter 10 via the door 50 if he chooses to do so at this time so as tothread each cord or rope 72'through the eyelet 70 contained in the tabs66. He pulls the cord or ropes 72 taut in each instanceand this likewisepulls the canvas 62 tightly over therails54a, 54b and 54c. Before doingthis, he could have completed the anchoring of the margins of the canvas62 containing the eyelets 78 through the simple expedient of engagingthe hook 82 with the nearest loop 86, the elastic rope 80 stretchingsufficiently to achieve this, goal. The elasticity of the ropes 80 thenpull the marginal edges tightly over the side and top edges of theseveral panels 38a, 38b, 38c and 38d.

Virtually an integral structure results. The panels 38a, 38b, 38c and38d nolonger can be disengaged from the grooves or slots 24 in whichtheir lower marginal edges reside owing to the downward pull exerted bytheoverlying canvas 62. The canvas 62 in turn is held downwardly throughthe agency of the cord or ropes 72. Consequently, an exceedingly sturdyshelter results which is relatively air tight by reason of the overlyingcanvas 62 and the various anchoring ropes attached thereto. in otherwords, the cold ambient air has no real way in which to enter theconfines of my shelter 10.

When the user wishes to collapse or knock-down the shelter 10, the stepsare practiced in reverse order and the shelter can quickly betransported to a new location and then re-erected or stored, as the casemay be. When storing or transporting the knock-down shelter 10, thefloor panels 26a and 26b are reversely folded (or stacked if the hingepins are removed) against each other, the hinges 28 permitting this.Then, the several end panels 38a, 38b, 38c and 38d can be stacked onwhichever base frame 12a, 12b is uppermost. The sev eral rails 54a, 54b,and 540 can then be placed on top of the panels 38 and the canvas 62folded to a partial degree so that it overlies the several rails 54 andpreferably extends downwardly over the sides of the stacked panels 38.On the other hand, the canvas 62 can be rolled on the rails, if desired.

As already mentioned, the floor panels 26:; and 26b can constitute asingle panel. Also, the end panels 38a and 38b can constitute a singlewall and the panels 380 and 38d also a second single wall. This willdepend largely upon the size of the shelter 10 as to whether one floorpanel or two are used and whether two or four end panels are employed.

1 claim:

l. A knock-down shelter comprising a pair of rigid panels having upper,side and lower edges, base means constituting the floor of the shelterand providing a pair of upwardly facing grooves or slots at each endthereof formed in each instance by parallel vertical walls having aspacing approximately equal to the thickness of said panels forreleasably receiving the lower edges of said panels therebetween so thatsaid panels form the spaced end walls of the shelter, at least one pairof elongated rail members having their ends detachably engageable overthe upper edges of said panels, a sheet of flexible material overlyingthe upper edges of said panels and said rail membersto form the top andside wallsof the shelter, with marginal portions thereof extendingdownwardly from said upper edges in a confronting relation with upperportions of said panelsand inwardly fromsaid'side edges in confrontingrelation with side .portions of said panels, first detachable fasteningmeans connecting said marginal portions of saidflexible sheet'rnaterialto said panels at locations near their said upper and side edges, saidflexible side walls having lower-portions located adjacent said basemeans, said base means being formed with a plurality of fish holestherein, and second detachable fastening means extending from the lowerportions of said flexible side walls upwardly through said holes toportions of said side walls located above said holes to connect saidbottom portions of the sidewalls to said base means.

2. A shelter in accordance with. claim 1 in which each panel has amarginally spaced horizontal strip for confronting the marginal portionof the floor adjacent the groove or slot in which its lower edge isreceived.

3.'A shelter in accordance with claim 1 including an angle element ateach end of each of said rail members,

said angle element having horizontal sections for extending over theupper edges of said panels and downturned sections for confronting theouter marginal portions of said panels, said overlying flexible sheetmaterial retaining said angle elements against said upper edges. i i

4. A shelter in accordance with claim 3 in which said downturnedsections are parallel with the ends of said rail members so that theends of said rail members confront inner marginal. portions of saidpanels.

5. A shelter in accordance with claim 1 in which said panels have aplurality of holes spaced inwardly from their top and side edges, saidfrst fastening meansineluding a rope having an outer loop for each holeand an intermediate portion thereof extending through the hole withwhich it is associated, each rope being knotted at its other end so asto anchor same with respect to the panel to which it is attached, saidfirst fastening means further including a second rope for each holeanchored at one end to the marginal edge of said sheet materia andhaving a hook element thereon at its other end engageable with the loopnearest thereto.

6. A shelter in accordance with claim in which each of saidlast-mentioned ropes is elastic.

7. A shelter in accordance with claim 6 in which said second fasteningmeans includes a plurality of additional ropes having one end anchoredto said side walls adjacent the two bottom edges thereof, and meanssecured to said side walls above their said bottom edges for anchoringthe other ends of said additional ropes to said side walls.

8. A shelter in accordance with claim 7 including an eyelet in saidmarginal edge of the sheet material for each elastic rope, said otherend of each elastic rope being tied to one of said eyelets.

9. A shelter in accordance with claim 8 in which said side walls have aplurality of eyelets adjacent their two bottom edges, said other end ofeach of said additional ropes being tied to one of said bottom eyelets.

10. A shelter in accordance with claim 9 in which said means secured tosaid side walls above their said bottom edges includes a plurality oftabs secured to the inside surfaces of said side walls, each of saidtabs having an eyelet for engaging a loop formed at said other end ofeach of said additional ropes.

11. A shelter in accordance with claim 10 including a lid hinged at oneedge for closing each fish hole, said lids each having a slot extendinginwardly from said one edge and said lids being held open by saidadditional ropes or said additional ropes passing through said slotsouter vertical edges of said panels, base means providing upwardlydirected slots or grooves at each end thereof for receiving therein thelower edges of said panels, a plurality of elongated rail members havingan angle element at each end thereof, the two angle elements of one railmember forming a notch for receiving therein the upper ends of theoverlapping braces at one end of said shelter and the upper ends of theoverlapping braces at the other end of said shelter, additional railmembers having angle elements forming additional notches of a size toreceive therein the upper ends of the braces at the outer edges of saidpanels, a sheet of canvas overlying the upper edges of said panels andsaid rail members, and means anchoring portions of said canvas sheet toportions of said panels spaced from said upper edges and from said sideedges thereof.

13. A shelter in accordance with claim 12 including means for anchoringadditional portions of said canvas to said base means.

14. A shelter in accordance with claim 13 in which said base meansincludes a plurality of fish holes, said means for anchoring saidadditional portions of said canvas to said base means including cords orropes extending upwardly from said additional portions of said canvasthrough said fish holes and connecting with portions of said canvasthereabove.

15. A shelter in accordance with claim 14 in which each of saidanchoring means includes a rope.

16. A shelter in accordance with claim 15 in which the base meansincludes a plurality of fish holes, the ropes for the bottom edgesextending upwardly through said fish holes and said panels having holesspaced inwardly from their side and top edges, the ropes for the sideedges of said canvas passing through said lastmentioned holes.

17. A shelter in accordance with claim 16 in which said sides of thecanvas have elastic ropes secured thereto having hook members at thefree ends thereof and said ropes for the sides of said canvas havingloops thereon engagable by the books on said elastic ropes. =0: :0: a::0: =0:

1. A knock-down shelter comprising a pair of rigid panels having upper,side and lower edges, base means constituting the floor of the shelterand providing a pair of upwardly facing grooves or slots at each endthereof formed in each instance by parallel vertical walls having aspacing approximately equal to the thickness of said panels forreleasably receiving the lower edges of said panels therebetween so thatsaid panels form the spaced end walls of the shelter, at least one pairof elongated rail members having their ends detachably engageable overthe upper edges of said panels, a sheet of flexible material overlyingthe upper edges of said panels and said rail members to form the top andside walls of the shelter, with marginal portions thereof extendingdownwardly from said upper edges in a confronting relation with upperportions of said panels and inwardly from said side edges in confrontingrelation with side portions of said panels, first detachable fasteningmeans connecting said marginal portions of said flexible sheet materialto said panels at locations near their said upper and side edges, saidflexible side walls having lower portions located adjacent said basemeans, said base means being formed with a plurality of fish holestherein, and second detachable fastening means extending from the lowerportions of said flexible side walls upwardly through said holes toportions of said side walls located above said holes to connect saidbottom portions of the side walls to said base means.
 2. A shelter inaccordance with claim 1 in which each panel has a marginally spacedhorizontal strip for confronting the marginal portion of the flooradjacent the groove or slot in which its lower edge is received.
 3. Ashelter in accordance with claim 1 including an angle element at eachend of each of said rail members, said angle element having horizontalsections for extending over the upper edges of said panels anddownturned sections for confronting the outer marginal portions of saidpanels, said overlying flexible sheet material retaining said angleelements against said upper edges.
 4. A shelter in accordance with claim3 in which said downturned sections are parallel with the ends of saidrail members so that the ends of said rail members confront innermarginal portions of said panels.
 5. A shelter in accordance with claim1 in which said panels have a plurality of holes spaced inwardly fromtheir top and side edges, said first fastening means including a ropehaving an outer loop for each hole and an intermediate portion thereofextending through the hole with which it is associated, each rope beingknotted at its other end so as to anchor same with respect to the panelto which it is attached, said first fastening means further including asecond rope for each hole anchored at one end to the marginal edge ofsaid sheet materia and having a hook element thereon at its other endengageable with the loop nearest thereto.
 6. A shelter in accordancewith claim 5 in which each of said last-mentioned ropes is elastic.
 7. Ashelter in accordance with claim 6 in which said second fastening meansincludes a plurality of additional ropes having one end anchored to saidside walls adjacent the two bottom edges thereof, and means secured tosaid side walls above their said bottom edges for anchoring the othereNds of said additional ropes to said side walls.
 8. A shelter inaccordance with claim 7 including an eyelet in said marginal edge of thesheet material for each elastic rope, said other end of each elasticrope being tied to one of said eyelets.
 9. A shelter in accordance withclaim 8 in which said side walls have a plurality of eyelets adjacenttheir two bottom edges, said other end of each of said additional ropesbeing tied to one of said bottom eyelets.
 10. A shelter in accordancewith claim 9 in which said means secured to said side walls above theirsaid bottom edges includes a plurality of tabs secured to the insidesurfaces of said side walls, each of said tabs having an eyelet forengaging a loop formed at said other end of each of said additionalropes.
 11. A shelter in accordance with claim 10 including a lid hingedat one edge for closing each fish hole, said lids each having a slotextending inwardly from said one edge and said lids being held open bysaid additional ropes or said additional ropes passing through saidslots when said lids are closed.
 12. A knock-down shelter comprising apair of rigid panels at each end thereof so that each pair of panelsform an end wall of the shelter, said panels having upper edges, loweredges, vertical adjacent edges and outer vertical edges, overlappingbraces extending along the adjacent vertical edges of each pair of saidrigid panels, additional braces extending along the outer vertical edgesof said panels, base means providing upwardly directed slots or groovesat each end thereof for receiving therein the lower edges of saidpanels, a plurality of elongated rail members having an angle element ateach end thereof, the two angle elements of one rail member forming anotch for receiving therein the upper ends of the overlapping braces atone end of said shelter and the upper ends of the overlapping braces atthe other end of said shelter, additional rail members having angleelements forming additional notches of a size to receive therein theupper ends of the braces at the outer edges of said panels, a sheet ofcanvas overlying the upper edges of said panels and said rail members,and means anchoring portions of said canvas sheet to portions of saidpanels spaced from said upper edges and from said side edges thereof.13. A shelter in accordance with claim 12 including means for anchoringadditional portions of said canvas to said base means.
 14. A shelter inaccordance with claim 13 in which said base means includes a pluralityof fish holes, said means for anchoring said additional portions of saidcanvas to said base means including cords or ropes extending upwardlyfrom said additional portions of said canvas through said fish holes andconnecting with portions of said canvas thereabove.
 15. A shelter inaccordance with claim 14 in which each of said anchoring means includesa rope.
 16. A shelter in accordance with claim 15 in which the basemeans includes a plurality of fish holes, the ropes for the bottom edgesextending upwardly through said fish holes and said panels having holesspaced inwardly from their side and top edges, the ropes for the sideedges of said canvas passing through said last-mentioned holes.
 17. Ashelter in accordance with claim 16 in which said sides of the canvashave elastic ropes secured thereto having hook members at the free endsthereof and said ropes for the sides of said canvas having loops thereonengagable by the hooks on said elastic ropes.